Garden of May - Chapter 74
Chapter 74
A strange unease prickled at the edge of his familiar train of thought, bringing him to a complete halt.
What am I hoping for?
This summer was a fleeting dream, never to be repeated. There was no future in this. Their relationship, from the very beginning, was built on deception. Even if they were to meet again in society, they would both be in positions where acknowledging this time together would be impossible.
“River?”
Vanessa, noticing he had stopped, turned back. She stepped closer, tilting her head. The clean scent of soap wafted from her as she drew near.
“What is it?”
“Just a moment.”
“Are you ill?”
The innocent question, coupled with the direct gaze of her upturned eyes, sent a jolt of desire through him. He groaned, rubbing his hand over his face. The consequences of his recent lack of restraint were catching up to him.
He scoffed at the memory of men who showered their lovers with gold to entice them back to bed. His own actions—offering Vanessa an entire dress shop—were no better.
Lost in a brief spiral of self-loathing, his grip loosened.
“Oh my goodness, River! Look!”
Her voice, bright and untroubled, suggested his inner turmoil was of no concern to her.
“Kittens! They’re selling such tiny kittens… poor things.”
Her voice, already laced with enchantment, drew closer. Vanessa, forgetting her new clothes, crouched down and scooped up a small, scrawny white kitten.
She lamented the kitten’s separation from its mother, but her face, softened with affection for the creature in her arms, was radiant.
He briefly entertained the thought of whisking her away to the nearest hotel, reducing her to a mess of tears.
He covered his mouth with his hand, taking a slow, steadying breath. Calm yourself. This outing was meant to be a distraction. They were intelligent adults, and even a purely physical relationship couldn’t be confined to a warehouse all summer.
Yet, he couldn’t help but regret the moments not spent that way. Oblivious to his baser desires, Vanessa turned to him, a bright smile illuminating her face as she held the dirty kitten.
He stared at her, momentarily captivated. Then, a group of men carrying a long metal ladder and stage props for the theater obscured his view. The brief interruption ignited a sudden thirst. He started towards her, pushing through the gathering crowd, when a voice called out.
“Captain?”
Theodore turned reflexively, realizing his mistake too late. A well-dressed gentleman in a bowler hat stood a few paces away, hesitant. Recognition dawned on his face, his expression shifting to one of certainty. He snapped to attention, offering a sharp salute.
“Good heavens, sir! I heard you were on leave in the South, but I never expected to see you here! It’s an honor, sir!”
“Do I know you?”
“S-sir! Lieutenant Campbell, Fourth Battalion. Please, sir, there’s no need for formalities!”
“I believe you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
Theodore cut short the effusive greeting. The surreptitious glances from the surrounding crowd had grown more blatant with the man’s arrival.
Confusion clouded the man’s face. Theodore felt the need to clarify the situation, especially with the growing attention.
“Sergeant Ross.”
“Sir?”
The man tilted his head, bewildered. Theodore anxiously glanced towards where Vanessa had been crouching. The growing crowd, drawn by the announcement of the impending circus, blocked his view.
“I must be going.”
With that, Theodore gave a hand signal: “Maintain course without lights.” While its original meaning pertained to navigation, it was more commonly used as a signal to keep silent.
“Ah!”
The man let out a strangled sound of understanding, awkwardly dropping his salute. He then adopted a stiff, unnatural tone, mumbling as if reading from a book. “My apologies, sir. It seems I…mistook you…for someone else entirely.”
“I understand.”
“Well then…I’ll just…be…going now.”
His face, drained of color, glistened with sweat as he practically leaned on his companion for support as they hurried away. Theodore watched them go, his eyes narrowed, when a startled gasp from Vanessa reached his ears.
He immediately pushed through the crowd towards her. The kitten seller had vanished, leaving Vanessa standing alone. She lowered the hand she had clapped over her mouth as she saw him approach.
“River…”
Her small face, pale and drawn, was a mask of distress.
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 152 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 151 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 150 - Jun 16, 2026
